Audible and visual electrical signaling device



AP145 3, 1948. E. WEISSMAN 2,439,766

AUDIBLE AND VISUAL ELECTRICAL SIGNALING DEVICE Filed May 29, 1945 2Sheets-Sheet l 1 I l I 4/ l H||I I 4 3.5 I 6 I 1 j J INVI ZN TOR. 4[aye/2e lfzmwz p ifi m, 1948. E'WEISSMAN 2439 766 AUDIBLE AND VISUALELECTRICAL SIGNALING DEVICE Filed May 29, 1.945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Patented Apr. 13, 1948 AUDIBLE AND VISUAL ELECTRICAL SIGNALING DEVICEEugene Weissman, Baltimore, Md.

Application May 29, 1945, Serial No. 596,471 Claims. (01. 177-424) Thisinvention relates to a signaling device.

More specifically, the invention relates to a combined audible andvisible signaling device and is characterized generally in the provisionof a transformer having associated therewith sound and light producingmeans in circuit with the transformer and operative upon closing aswitch as by means of a push button.

The improved device is specially adapted for use in place of the usualdoor bell and which, while functioning similarly to the usual door bellsin providing an audible signal, also functions in the provision of alight, thereby providing a desirable signal for one who is wholly orpartially deaf.

A primary object of the invention is the provision of a signaling deviceincluding a novel form of transformer having operatively associatedtherewith audible and visible signaling means.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a signaling deviceincluding a transformer having a primary coil and axially alined spacedsecondary coils, the secondary coils being in a circuit controlled by apush button switch, and a vibratory sound producing member interposedbetween the secondary coils and cooperating with opposed contacts in thecircuit for alternate energization of the coils with a resultantvibration of the vibratory member.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a signalingdevice of the above noted character wherein the sound volume isregulatable for a constant amplitude of vibration of the vibratorymember.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a signalingdevice of the above noted character which is relatively simple inconstruction, compact, neat in appearance, efficient in operation, andwhich is capable of being installed with a minimum of effort and skill.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists incertain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts whichwill be hereinafter more fully described in connection with theaccompanying drawings, wherein-- Figure 1 is a vertical sectional viewin the plane of line l-|, Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view in the plane of line 2-2, Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view in the plane of line 3-3, Fig. 1,with certain parts omitted for clarity of disclosure. Fig. 4 is a wiringdiagram.

Referring now in detail to the drawings by use of reference characters,[0 designates a casing or housing for the various cooperating elementsentering into the improved signaling device. The casing preferablyincludes a base H in the form of a rectangular panel adapted forsuitable support or connection to a wall, and a cover [2.

The cover i2 is constructed of a transparent material which may be glassor a plastic, and, in fact, the entire casing is preferably constructedof a plastic material, and the edge of the cover I2 is preferablyundercut as at l3 for snugly receiving the margin of the base.

As will hereinafter appear, the mechanism Within the casing is whollysupported by the base H, and after assembly thereof, the cover I?! maybe secured to the base in any desired or appropriate manner.

The cover I2 is provided with a socket member I 4 for suitableconnection to a house current, and such socket member may have bindingposts 25 for connection of the terminals of a primar coil IS on a coremember ll which may be suitably supported from the base II, as bybrackets 58. Also supported by the core member I! is a pair of axiallyalined secondary coils [9. The core member as shown in Fig. 1 is ofgenerally U-form having inward extensions parallel with the base andupon which the secondary coils are wound, such extensions preferablyterminating in opposed stops or poles 20, for a purpose later to appear.

Vertically disposed between the coils i9 and stops 20 is a yieldablevibratory strip member 2! whose lower end is rigidly supported as bymeans of brackets 22 projecting forwardly from the base II and which isprovided with malleable iron armatures 2|. The upper end of member 2| isprovided with a head 23 which is triangular in end view and which isdisposed between opposed flanges 24 of resonance members. The resonancemembers are generally in the form of the well known tuning forks, andeach includes opposed vertical tines 25, 26 connected through an arcuatebight portion 21.

The upper ends of the outer tines 25 are free while the correspondingends of the inner tines 26 merge into horizontal plate portions 28 whosefree and adjacent edges terminate in the flanges 24 above referred to.

As indicated in Fig. 1, the flanges 24 are angularly disposed and aresubstantially parallel with the adjacent faces of the head 23 foralternate impact by the head upon vibration of the member 21. The member21 has a constant amplitude of vibration as governed by the fixed stops2s and armatures 2| and the extent of lateral vibration of the resonancemembers will be in accordance with the normal spacing of the flanges 24from the adjacent faces of the head 23.

Means are provided for ready adjustment of this spacing for acorresponding change in the volume of sound produced by the resonancemembers. Such means preferably embodies ,a threaded stud 29 rigid withand projecting downwardly from each bight portion 21 and which projectsloosely through an aperture in a bracket 39 projecting forwardly fromthe base II. n coil spring 3| is disposed betweenth'e'biglitpor} tion 2?and bracket 30 in surrounding relation the stud 29 beneath the bracket v3 .ll.

Thus it will be seen thatli'poh turning up the nuts 32 the resonancemembers with flanges 25 will be lowered with a corresponding decrease ospaci between th fianeesand the head and h acqr espa dins incre e in thration m u e of the res nance m mb r On the o h ha d. .uponl nn in th'nu a d the r e ends q zth? stud the s r n s W111 r th t s nanpe mem er.tq e h t n e .Ztupwanilv with a qe re eendi g 1 s f spaci g b w e tthese a hea 23 w ereby he vibmib x mrl iue 9f h resqnanee m mbe .W ll hzd n ini edh b pe edsepqndery laqils l arle a te at l energized forimparting yibration to member 2| and such alternate energizaft ion iscontrlolled'by a a dab s eniepi t??? 1 which mien r n" ra et ie s wi h ie H and which'braclgts" are provided with circuit wire bindingsciew'sst. v

A pair of lamps 3? is supported brackets "es ont ie base" Wa -q n:suitable n brackets are preferamy prt'videdwithcircuit ireerainp Thedevice is adapted for connection with wires leading from as table 1 L4Q"' ('Fig'; 4 ont db pilshbnfie t t a d een W re may "es; 1 in a mestem t? th i h w re iiie ed i i easte n 6 an i wane ebin in flews' w etacts 33 and respectively. *Thec oilslgare connected withoppose ctsthrough wires 18' and @9 2lnfi the I jointly 'connected to memberer-throng As before stated; the cov r is transparent and preferablycenstieetea glass which "is' of such thickness as "to have av'ib'rfatiiz nfiequ'ei'icy equal to that of thereso'nancemembers wherebythe casing" will in effect act as aseco'n'd resonance member inproviding the soundsigfi'al.

Itisto be notedth'at while'the' yieldable vibra tcry member-"2| in""itsinoperativevertical position engages contactfiii, "the' vibratory memberWill have'equal ampiitiiaeson ei -th efsid or its vertical restposition, since the contacts fiand i lare yieldable even though the"opposingcoil iii'is' energized upon contact 33' engaging the vibratorymember before suchmember completes its'a'm'plitu'de of vibration.

4 In operation, the improved signalingdevice is suitably connected withthe current throughthe socket memberld and the: primary coil lfithroughthe "core it induces a lo'wvoltage 'cu'rrentirr the secondary coils |.9'which through "the' circuit. connections" illustrated? Fig! 4 arealternately 1 5 to the stud 29 and a nut 32 is engagedwith 4 energizedwith a resultant vibration of the meniber 2| upon pressing button 4|.

The member 2| will have a constant amplitude of vibration as governed bythe stops 20, and the head 23 will impart vibration to the resonancemembers of an amplitude dependent upon the spacing between the head andthe flanges 24 which spacing is readily adjustable to provideanyfvoiemeprsound desired.

The lamps 37 will also belig'hted upon closing the switch 40 through thepush button 4| which,

hue to the rapid rate of vibration of member y it will be seen that theimproved signaling-*device' will provide both an audible and a visiblesignal thereby suiting its use to persons whethefblindor"deaf.

ltwill'further be seen that the cooperating elements are all supportedby the base of a neat sing h ying t ans arent eye whim 1 1m he remev 29i see tiq .Qiith e emen o fa receiver eph me a-them eve also il a tiq ih r-man n ht e. ame member i ne Eurthermone, the

What I head for engagi Wai eresbeaeee mber n i ith 99.nroll d lee ieaman e d ee ieeet es 9; e fecting vibration of the vibratory member.

a 2. An ele ctrical' signali'ng devicje cg iipfism a transparentcasi'ngfa transformer havinga prim y d pb sed se a dery 's' ii theeasing;aneMngateklyieIdabIe vibratory member ex: tending between theseoondarycoils f opposed yieldable contacts intermediate the *pnmaey'and secondary coils enea 'eane with the "vibratory member, "electricalconnections tacts and tne'ie's'peetive oppiisite. a push button"'controlledbircuit the contacts, an electrical connect secondary coils'and the vi ra r mane ma s W th' C p imity tQ-i 'e ri ia o v mem r io f em at he eby in the brate-1' h r efere e eration ofthe push button.

An e ctr e l; i a in et eea sq dia to cla qae he iw th l mpnane eai e ndi irs i c nection with s seeqeder An el e iaei si na in dei ieseceqrdiaete cla m-' W reimsa d refin nce ansmp. see a vibratoryresonance member on each sideot said first bra o y m mber each res nancememb including a pair of free-ended tines,

5; An elect cal si nalin device ac o d n t claim 2, wherein said casingcomprises a; glass. cover; having a vibration frequency. common" withsaid-vibratory;resonance.means.

6. An electrical signalingidevicie. comprising a casing including averticallyzdis'posed base? a transparent. cover:remmtablyjattached toithe base,

a transformer within the casing and including a primary coil and spacedaxially alined secondary coils, a vertically disposed yieldable stripmember extending between the secondary coils and having a head on theupper end thereof, push button controlled electric circuit connectionsfor alternate energization of the secondary coils for impartingvibration to the strip member, and a vibratory resonance memberincluding a, pair of spaced free-ended tines disposed on each side ofthe strip member and engageable by said head for vibration of theresonance members.

7. The structure according to claim 6, together with stop meansproviding a constant amplitude of vibration of the strip member, andadjustable supporting means for said resonance members for varying thevibration of the resonance members with a consequent variation in rangeof tone.

8. The structure according to claim 6, together with a pair of lamps inelectrical circuit with said secondary coils for providing a visiblesignal upon energization of the coils.

9. The structure according to claim 6, wherein said cover is formed ofglass of such thickness that the cover has a vibration frequency equalto that of the resonance members.

10. An electrical signaling device according to claim 2, wherein saidvibratory member is provided with a triangular shaped head, and whereinsaid vibratory resonance means includes flanges parallel with andengageable by opposed faces of said head, and means supporting saidresonance means from the casing for adjustment of the flanges relativeto said opposed faces.

EUGENE WEISSMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 210,886 Watson Dec. 17, 1878288,202 Bowen Nov. 13, 1883 329,782 Steiner Nov. 3, 1885 954,167 BurnsApr. 5, 1910 1,896,195 Green et al. Feb. 7, 1933 1,958,028 Aymar May 8,1934 2,227,277 Mason Dec. 31, 1940 2,240,378 Rittenhouse Apr. 29, 19412,350,413 Ordman June 6, 1944

